The United States has launched an attack on an alleged weapons storage facility in eastern Syria that it believes was being utilized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-backed groups.
In a statement on Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the “self-defense strike” was executed by two F-15 fighters from the air force in response to recent assaults on US forces.
“The safety of US personnel is of utmost importance to the president, and today’s action was directed to emphasize that the United States will protect itself, its personnel, and its interests,” the statement declared.
Amid escalating tensions since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, Washington has reported that its troops and their allies have been targeted by Iran-backed forces at least 40 times in Iraq and Syria, resulting in 45 servicemen sustaining traumatic brain injuries or minor wounds.
Last month, the Pentagon announced that the US had targeted two facilities linked to the IRGC and Iran in Syria following attacks on US personnel.
In Wednesday’s statement, Austin called for an end to the assaults.
Post from www.aljazeera.com